New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-21

The latest phase OF the water-supply ques-
ton in Jersey City and Newark is opposition to
the plan of letting the undertaking to private
corporation. The move is good one. No city
ought to be dependent on any money making
company for it's drinking water, If any other
arrangement is possible. For these two cities
to buy the sources of supply and lay mains to
carry it where it is wanted would probably be
the cheapest in the long run-if the world does
not end in A. D. 1900, as the Rev. NJ. Baxter
predicted yesterday.
In eleven days, including Sunday and Wash
mgton's Birthday, the XLIXth Congress will
come to an end, and the prospect is that as
usual the last hours of the session will be
marked by hasty and unconsidered legislation.
Several important appropriation bills have not
yet been acted upon nor have such measures
as those relating to the means of National de-
fence and retaliation for the Canadian fishery
outrages been properly discussed. In the rush
to put all these bills through at the last moment,
the Republican minority in the House should
be on the alert and make no blunders. Let the
Democrats monOpolize them.
Probably the Legislature would do isely to
adopt the suggestion of the Kings County
Medical Society. and place cocaine on the list
of drugs to be sold only on the prescription Of
aphysician. 1t cannot be said, without fear of
contradiction, that all doctors regard cocaine
as dangerous but it is certain that such an
opinion in regard to it is rapidly gaining ground
everywhere. Until the question is finally set
tied. therefore, there can be- no harm in being
on the safe side. 1t is better to allow q few
people to be Inconvenience than to run the
risk OF letting even one poor creature easily
acquire a fatal habit, akin to the use OF opium.
Some rash, little Democratic politicians up
in Connecticut the other day thought it would
be amusing to them and embarrassing to the
Republicans if they should get some Free Trade
resolutions introduced in their State Legislat
nrc. So they had it done. But the Repub-
iicans were not scared in the least They met
the challenge promptly and introduced some
strong Protective Tariff resolutions. Both
sets have now been referred to the proper COM
mittee. and National issue thus becomes an
Issue in the Connecticut Legislature. The Dem
ocratic members are likely to regret this move
before they get through with it. They arc
only half hearted Free Traders at best and to he
obliged to come out squarcly in the matter will
not he pleasant. But they will know better than
to try it again. The issue between Protection
and Free Trade Is one the Republican party is
ready to meet anywhere and at any time.
Of course 1t Is to the interest of baseball as
. game 10 have all the clubs belonging to an
association as evenly matched as possible.
Still, the manager of a nine who sacrifices
everything for his friends in other clubs will
soon find that he has lost the support of the
local enthusiasts whose attendance at the
games gives him fur-hned OvercOats and dia-
mOnds. About year ago the New-YOrk club
entered into an agreement with the Chicago
club not to strengthen its nine further for that
season. The object was to make the playing
of all the clubs as uniform as possible. The
Chicago club soon showed that it did not need
strengthening, and the local managers discov-
cred that they had made a big mistake. The
New-York club is now weak in one or two
positions, and its friends, who 80 handsomely
supported it, rightly demand that good men
shall be secured to fill those places.
The Third Party Prohibitionists and their
allies, tho rumsellers, are by no means dis
couraged about defeating the High License
bill at Albany. They are working with bitter
earnestness against it. for the occupations both
II tho professional agitators and the liquor
sellers would be seriously interfered with by
~ successful 0peI alton Of reasonable tenn.